MONTREAL — Late this morning I joked that Bruins captain Zdeno Chara’s decision not to speak to the media after his team’s morning skate at the Bell Centre meant he was going to do his talking with his play — if he played.

Well, not only did the All-Star defenseman return to action for tonight’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with Montreal, he contributed an assist and three hits in a team-high 26:20 of ice time during the Bruins’ vital 4-2 win.

The Canadiens now lead the series 2-1 heading to Thursday’s Game 4. Chara had missed Saturday’s Game 2 because of dehydration that had forced him into the hospital last Friday.

“Obviously I wanted to play even the game before that. But obviously I knew it wouldn’t be a smart decision for the team,” said Chara. “So, for sure, I was really anxious to be in the lineup.”

The Bruins were anxious to have him back, too. And it showed. The Bruins’ defense corps — realigned in pairs by head coach Claude Julien — was more confident and smart with the puck. Chara played with Dennis Seidenberg, while Tomas Kaberle and Adam McQuaid formed a second pair, and Andrew Ference and Johnny Boychuk were the third pair.

They also played a better positional game in their own end. Fourteen of Boston’s team series-high 22 blocked shots came from blueliners, led by Andrew Ference with four.

If anyone ever wants to argue the value of Zdeno Chara, show them tape of tonight’s game and Game 2 and if they still don’t get it, don’t ever let them watch hockey again.

“I thought Johnny Boychuk played obviously his best game in the playoffs. And Andrew Ference has been solid for us,” said Julien. “So I think if anything, I really thought our Ds were much better than the first two games tonight. They were taking the ice that was given to them rather than just standing still like we thought we did with our offensive game from our back end [the first two games]. So it was better tonight.”

Chara described his condition tonight as “pretty good.” He wouldn’t expand upon the situation he faced that caused his dehydration, although it has widely been attributed to a virus. He said the day off Sunday and even a few hours today helped him recuperate for tonight.

As desperate as the Bruins were to get Chara back in uniform, Julien said the team didn’t make the final determination on his availability until after the warm-up. When he took the ice, Chara was greeted with the expected hostility everyone knew was coming in the first Bruins’ game since the March 8 hit on Max Pacioretty.

If the booing was more aggressive when he touched the puck early in the game, it lost its enthusiasm as the Bruins built their lead. Some derogatory chants using Chara’s name also cascaded across the arena, but they seemed to have little impact on the player that takes the most heat from the fans everywhere the Bruins play.

Julien said he saw no need to have any type of a chat about anything but health and the game plan with Chara prior to this game.

“He’s been in the league for such a long time. And he knew what was going to happen tonight,” said the coach. “He’s been booed in a lot of arenas that he plays in. To me that’s the sign of a lot of respect for a great player. When he draws that much attention, it’s because he’s got a certain impact. And he does have a big impact on our hockey club.”

Chara contribute to Boston’s solid first period, which included three penalty kills and two goals for. Without their captain, who knows what the Bruins might’ve done and how much longer they would’ve had in their season?

“Any time you’re on the road, the first 20 is so important,” he said. “Obviously shift after shift you have to really focus on your game. I thought we did a really good job.”

We all know the hits and the jabs and the whacks are traditionally part of the game even when they are a bit outside of the rules. But the absolute flopping (Hamerlik in the 3rd is just one blatant example) is an embarrassment to a team that has Maurice Richard in their HOF. Play the game to win as a 5 man squad and take the penalty when it comes. If you can’t win a fair, even strength game, you don’t deserve to advance. But the Habs never did like a fair game, did they?

Wisniewski fell on his Chara’s stick mouth-first, near the top. Also, the B’s had a 2-on-1 chance going the other way when the refs called the play dead to tend to Wisniewski. The injury was nothing to lie on the ice in pain about, and he could’ve easily skated off under his own power. But nope… he waited for the boo birds to influence the refs’ call, and unfairly stole a scoring chance away from the Bruins. That’s just wrong.

This is the tough guy who absolutely messed up Brent Seabrook last year, and thought nothing of it. Give me a break.

Notice that I, along with most of the B’s fans on here, are being objective of our criticisms. Whereas the attacks on Chara are all subjective garbage. “Viscious man with an ugly sorry face”? It’s just SO difficult to dislodge that argument… not

Zdeno took a good coffecup on 1st mtl goal…..U are saying it should be 4-1 but thomas did a grat job …Price did gave 2-3 lucky goal and this is the only reason u won…
Pouliot barely touch that guy ,he change is mind and hit side of it…Ready for game 4 !?!?!

Zedno’s punchchecking guys at their shoulders effectively sweeping guys off their skates is a dirty dangerous mean to get around a lack of mobility.

Also, if you think Zedno didn’t know what he was doing when he wacked his stick at Weez’s face while he was down, get in the know now. Zedno is a viscious man with an ugly sorry face that knows about his doings far more than the crowd standing behind him

Take the punch checking out the game and Zedno’s only options is the Natural science Museum next to Eructus.

“If anyone ever wants to argue the value of Zdeno Chara, show them tape of tonight’s game and Game 2 and if they still don’t get it, don’t ever let them watch hockey again.”
Nice, I always think it’s odd when B’s fans trash on Chara. He’s the heart and soul of this team.